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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. march — the month
  3. rock — a stone
  4. fine — all right
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. charge — electricity
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — music
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. march — music
  11. club — for dancing
  12. fine — high quality
  13. charge — a price
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. club — for golf
  16. rush — hurry
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. march — the month
  20. shower — rain
  21. shower — to wash
  22. club — a group
  23. charge — in control
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com